IT’S ALL IN THE TONE OF VOICE

It’s a fact of life. We get across our meaning by way of tone more than the actual words we use. And, I’m sure we’ve all noticed that sarcasm isn’t just for snobby art critics anymore. Even little kids can belt us across the face with a wallop of sarcasm that would leave even the biggest of cynics looking like newbies! Hell, those are my favorite kids!

Mothers have also employed “the tone” for centuries! That tone unique to each, individual mother that heralds impending death. Most of us get a certain amount of pleasure from using it. I think it’s from having it used against us when we were young and then years later discovering of THE POWER. Of course, my little spawn of Satan isn’t affected by the tone. But, I have been amused to no end ~ to the point of disrupting the discipline with my out-loud laughter ~ the affect her surrogate grandma has been having! Oh the power of grandma! One look to defeat the giant! HA! Take THAT! Am I upset to be upstaged??? Hell no! He-he (whisper).....I’m not the bad guy anymore! Plus, it’s just too funny to see my kid actually afraid of someone! I love grandma.

It’s becoming a trademark of the intelligent and informed. It’s also becoming the trademark of the popular blogger. And, what always impresses me. I think we all forget how difficult it is to convey tone of voice through written words. The feedback to my thoughts is genuinely the biggest reason for my blogging, but I also post my every thought in order to keep sharp. When writing a screenplay it’s pretty damn simple and no-brainy. Example:

The dumb blonde, actress enters the room. With the confidence of a NFL linebacker, she rushes the bar.
Dumb Blonde
Can I have whatever that producer guy over there is having?
Bartender
(smirking with disgust)
You mean the geriatric with the Metamucil?
Dumb Blonde
(oblivious)
Ooooohhh, that sounds good!

See, not much finessing is needed. It’s all spelled out for even the simplest of producers to understand. Which, for the individual who writes because they were pretty much born unable to do anything else, writing a screenplay is fun, yet lacks the stimulus we need like caffeine or heroin. My joke that’s not a joke forever has been ~ “I take breaks from writing by writing (blogs)”.

So, those who are reading this should stop and think about the posts you’ve made. Think about the tone of voice you used and ask yourself if the reader understood your meaning. If so, then take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Go shopping and buy that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing. Decide that today is the day to break the diet for a moment of chocolate-caramely-ice-cream-goodness. Or, if it’s your thing, break out the girly magazines and for once, don’t claim to be reading the articles! You deserve it!

Ah, someday - maybe when I’m old - I’ll write that novel that I’ve always promised myself I’d write. I’ll labor over each word in the way that no lover has ever accomplished. My very existance will be devoted to the right prose and the most delicious of syntax. There will be melody and song. Love and sex. Maybe even some fucking. A little bit of Hemingway, a sprinkling of Proust, a dash of Dostoevsky. Until that shining, beautiful day; sitting on the veranda with Modelmom in her Tuscany paradise (let’s face it, when I begin my novel I’ll need someone around to harness my crazy and tie my shoes!) I’ll be here or where ever. Sharing my every thought and cooking up my next adventure. Thanks for coming along for the ride.